Tar Sands Jailbirds
A total of 1,252 people were arrested in late August and early September 2011 for blocking access to the White House. The purpose of their organized protest: To urge Barack Obama, a president who most of them supported and fervently believed in, to turn down approval for the 1,600-mile Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport tar sands oil from western Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Those detained include men and women of all ages and backgrounds from across the country. We asked some of them to tell us about their experiences in police custody and what drove them to seek arrest. Here are their stories.
Were you arrested? Tell us yours.
September 12, 2011:
I have never been arrested before, though I’ve been to many demonstrations and protests since the late 70s. My decision to defy police orders on August 29 by refusing to move from my spot on the sidewalk in front of the... read more >
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September 7, 2011:
On Election Day in 2008, I proudly wore a Barack Obama T-shirt after months campaigning to elect the most inspiring, environmentally conscious figure to run for president in my 22 years. Two weeks ago, I wore the shirt again... read more >
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September 7, 2011:
Two weeks ago I traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to visit a place that definitely isn’t on the usual tourist maps: the city jail. I wasn’t alone. Author and climate activist Bill McKibben (an OnEarth... read more >
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